Given a lift by phase I/IIa data with KTE-C19, its anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Kite Pharma Inc. plans a pivotal study early next year in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Read More
HONG KONG – A Chinese protein drug developer received a $24 million investment to prepare a new subsidiary and pave the way for an initial public offering (IPO). Read More
DUBLIN – Johnson & Johnson is beefing up its immunology pipeline – and its capabilities in developing bispecific antibodies – by acquiring Covagen AG. Financial terms were not disclosed, but, given Covagen's recent success at attracting finance, the up-front value of the deal should be comfortably north of CHF200 million (US$218 million). Read More
Tumor metabolism and immunology specialist Calithera Biosciences Inc. on Tuesday revealed plans to raise up to $80 million in a yet-to-price initial public offering (IPO). The company will debut on Nasdaq under the symbol CALA and said it would use proceeds from the offering to advance CB-839, its phase I glutaminase inhibitor for triple-negative breast cancer and multiple myeloma as well as a preclinical arginase inhibitor. Read More
TOKYO – Japan is now prepared to provide drugs that could help fight the outbreak of Ebola, if the World Health Organization (WHO) or other medical workers or companies request it. Read More
SHANGHAI – China Biologic Inc., of Beijing, has topped up its controlling equity interest by 20 percent in Guizhou Taibang Biological Products Co. Ltd., in a deal valued at $87.1 million. Read More
SHANGHAI – Hutchison China Meditech Ltd., also known as Chi-Med, said this month that phase III trials would be terminated for its lead candidate, HMPL-004, a botanical treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC). Read More
Sorrento Therapeutics Inc., of San Diego, received a Small Business Innovation Research phase I grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to advance an immunotherapy targeting WNT1-inducible signaling protein-1 for the potential treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Read More
Avanir Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Aliso Viejo, Calif., enrolled the first patient into a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of AVP-786 for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder. Read More
Glaxosmithkline plc, of London, said the FDA approved a supplemental new drug application for the once-daily use of Promacta (eltrombopag) in patients with severe aplastic anemia who have had an insufficient response to immunosuppressive therapy. Read More
